Minnesota used goals by Grant Cruikshank (6:05), Tristan Boz (8:40) and Blake McGlaughlin (11:09) to build a 3-0 lead in the first 11 minutes of the first period.
Ryan Bischel entered in relief of Matthew Galajda and made a big left pad stop on Matthew Knies with 3:11 left in the first and the teams headed to the locker room with Minnesota in front 3-0 after one period of play.
Sammy Walker pushed the lead to 4-0 just 37 seconds into the second with his eighth goal of the season.
The Irish then went to work on a power-play chance early in the second with Chase Blackmun, Trevor Janicke and Grant Silianoff all forcing Justen Close into a series of saves but he was able to keep Notre Dame off the board.
Notre Dame got on the board at 16:22 of the second when Trevor Janicke tipped in a Chase Blackmun pass for his second power-play tally in as many games. Spencer Stastney had the second assist on the play, which was Janicke’s ninth goal of the season.
Just after the Irish goal, Ellis created a partial breakaway attempt but while dealing with the back-check his shot went just wide.
Bischel then denied Cruikshank on a 2-on-1 attempt but then McLaughlin converted an odd man rush with Notre Dame pressuring the other way to make it a 5-1 game after two periods of play.
With 12:14 left in the third Landon Slaggert had a breakaway attempt but Close made a pad save while the Gophers were whistled for a hook. On the ensuing power play, Trevor Janicke had his shot from the slot partially blocked on the best Irish look.
Notes
- With his goal, Trevor Janicke has a two-game point streak (2-1-3).
- With an assist, Spencer Stastney has now tallied a point in seven of Notre Dame’s last eight contests (3-6-9) and has a two-game point streak (1-3-4).
- With an assist, Chase Blackmun has a two-game point streak (0-2-2) and the graduate student has a point in three of Notre Dame’s last four games.
- Notre Dame is now 10-5-0 at Compton Family Ice Arena this season.
- The series wraps Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET at Compton Family Ice Arena.